Download Drive More Leads with Craigslist – Part 2

Drive More Leads with Craigslist – Part 2
Below are the summarized notes from the “Drive More Leads with Craigslist – Part 2” webinar.
Included, you’ll find the notes from today’s class, as well as some of Jack’s best practices on how to get
the most from your Craigslist ads, and examples of some effective Craigslist ads.
Anatomy of a Craigslist Ad
There are two main components of a Craigslist ad; the ad headline, and the ad body.
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Ad Headline
o Headline has ONE job – To entice consumers to click on the ad
o Most important part of any Craigslist post
Ad Body
o Describes the listing in more detail
o Should be short, sweet, and to the point
What is Flagging?
When your ads are flagged, it can have an impact on the success of your ad, and the number of leads
you generate through Craigslist. Ad get flagged by other Craigslist users (not by Craigslist), and if an ad is
sufficiently flagged, it can be subject to removal. Best practices avoid being flagged:
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Avoid all caps in your headline or body
Steer clear of using the word “list” of “listings”
Diversify your ads; make sure your content varies from ad to ad
Make sure your ad is posted in the appropriate category
Avoid posting frequently in multiple regions or cities
What is Ghosting?
When a Craigslist ad is ghosted, it means it is never really published or visible to the public. When
ghosting occurs, you may not know it, but it results in your ad never actually showing up on Craigslist.
Ghosting is typically done on an IP address level, so when posting, switch it up; post some from home
and some from the office. Also, many of the guidelines to avoid being flagged also apply to ghosting:
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Make sure your ads vary
Posting within multiple regions and categories can lead to ghosting
Make sure you post from one Craigslist account
Craigslist Numbers Game
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The more ads you post, the more people you will drive to your website.
20 ads is a great start to seeing results within a 7-day period
If your target is 100 leads from Craigslist, then you will want to have 80-90 active ads
Jack’s Craigslist Strategies
Today’s online consumers tend to prefer the anonymity the internet offers them, so below are Jack’s
strategies for posting on Craigslist:
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Post your listings during peak hours (between 5:00am-7:00am, and 6:30pm – 9:30pm)
Include short and concise messaging in your post
Include a call to action
Always link back to your website in front of relevant content
Instant gratification; provide what the consumers are looking for
Be service oriented, not the sales approach
Use an attention grabbing headline
Use photos in your post, but not necessarily property photos; you can also select images and
templates from your marketing center as well!
Wait at least 48 hours to renew your posts
Consistency is the key to success; establish a Craigslist routine and stick with it
Jack’s Essential Tools
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Craigslist Account – How you find the leads
Market Leader lead capture website – How you capture the leads
Market Leader Site Activity Report – How you measure leads generated from your ads
HTML Link Generator – How to make your link enticing and relevant
o http://craigslistadtracker.com/
o http://www.ibdguy.com/makehtml/ (free)
Image HTML Generator – How you generate HTML code with pictures
o http://imageshack.us/ (free)
HTML Editor – Allows you to edit and personalize your HTML code
o http://htmledit.squarefree.com/ (free)
Things to Keep in Mind
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The strategies and techniques shared today may work for Jack, but not every strategy works the
same for every agent. Find a method that works for you and your business.
How you promote yourself and your business can vary greatly depending on your MLS, or what
state you live in. Make sure how you choose to market yourself falls within these rules and
regulations.
Craigslist is a powerful website that is ever changing; certain strategies that work today may not
work in a month, so it’s important to be cognizant of the varying nature rules that surround this
valuable tool.
Remember, testing is important and you need to try different headlines and ads to see what will
work in your area; certain headlines respond well in areas while others may not, so have fun and
get creative!
General Steps to Post on Craigslist
To post multiple listings or a single listing from your website, just make sure you have permission from
the listing agent, as well as photos of the listing (if you wish to upload photos in your post).
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Log into your Craigslist Account
Click on New Post
Select the greater area from the drop-down menu
This will open your Craigslist account, from here, select Housing Offered
Then select Real Estate – By Broker
Next, select the general area of the listing
Now you can enter in the details of your posting
Craigslist Ad Examples